# 1932–33 West Ham United F.C. season

The 1932–33 season was West Ham's first season back in the Second Division following their relegation in the previous season. The club were managed at the start of the season by Syd King.

## Season summary

Two days after losing their ninth game of the season, on 7 November King was sacked. He was replaced by Charlie Paynter. King who was reputed to have had problems with alcohol and had previously turned up at board meetings drunk and had taken West Ham's relegation the previous season badly such that it had affected his mental health. A month after his sacking, King committed suicide by drinking alcohol laced with a "corrosive substance". An inquest into his death concluded that he had been suffering from paranoia and that he had taken his life "whilst of unsound mind".
In the league, they finished in 20th place just one place above a relegation spot having not been higher than 16th all season. Their defence was the poorest in the league ranking 22nd letting in 93 goals at an average of 2.21 goals every game. A run of four wins in their last five games moved them out of the relegation places with one game of the season remaining. This included their only away win of the season, at Old Trafford against Manchester United. The winning goal in a 2-1 victory was scored by Arthur Wilson who many years later recalled the goal; "It was a real belter from 30 yards. The ball hit the underside of the bar and struck the goalkeeper on the back of the neck before crossing the line. The force of the shot knocked him to the floor". The players were promised a continental tour if they managed to beat relegation. This did not materialize.
The club's top scorer was Vic Watson with 28 goals; 24 in the league and four in the FA Cup.
West Ham reached the semi-final of the FA Cup before losing to Everton whose goals were scored by Dixie Dean and Ted Critchley. Everton went on to contest, and win, an all Lancashire final against Manchester City.

### Second Division

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 18 | Lincoln City | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 72 | 87 | 0.828 | 37 | |
| 19 | Burnley | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 67 | 79 | 0.848 | 36 | |
| 20 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 75 | 93 | 0.806 | 35 | |
| 21 | Chesterfield (R) | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 61 | 84 | 0.726 | 34 | Relegation to the Third Division North |
| 22 | Charlton Athletic (R) | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 60 | 91 | 0.659 | 31 | Relegation to the Third Division South |

## Results

West Ham United's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Second Division

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 27 August 1932 | Swansea City | A | 0-1 | 15,247 | |
| 29 August 1932 | Bradford City | H | 2-4 | 10,964 | Pollard, Mills |
| 3 September 1932 | Notts County | H | 1-1 | 10,656 | Puddefoot |
| 7 September 1932 | Bradford City | A | 1-5 | 17,137 | Watson |
| 10 September 1932 | Port Vale | A | 0-4 | 9,582 | |
| 17 September 1932 | Millwall | H | 3-0 | 25,496 | Watson (2), Morton |
| 24 September 1932 | Southampton | A | 3-4 | 11,636 | Watson, Morton (2) |
| 1 October 1932 | Bury | A | 0-1 | 12,848 | |
| 8 October 1932 | Lincoln City | A | 0-6 | 9,887 | |
| 15 October 1932 | Oldham Athletic | H | 5-2 | 13,161 | Norris (3), Watson, Morton |
| 22 October 1932 | Preston North End | A | 1-4 | 8,525 | Mills |
| 29 October 1932 | Burnley | H | 4-4 | 12,009 | Watson (3), Morton |
| 5 November 1932 | Bradford Park Avenue | A | 0-3 | 14,861 | |
| 12 November 1932 | Grimsby Town | H | 5-2 | 11,481 | Yews, Watson, Wilson (2), Jacobson (og) |
| 19 November 1932 | Stoke City | A | 0-0 | 11,225 | |
| 26 November 1932 | Charlton Athletic | H | 7-3 | 18,347 | Barrett, Yews, Watson (2), Wilson (2), Morton |
| 3 December 1932 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2-2 | 7,399 | Watson, Wilson |
| 10 December 1932 | Manchester United | H | 3-1 | 13,435 | Watson (2), Wilson |
| 17 December 1932 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 2-2 | 45,129 | Morton, Whatley (og) |
| 24 December 1932 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 2-2 | 21,312 | Barrett, Morton |
| 26 December 1932 | Fulham | A | 2-4 | 26,932 | Watson, Puddefoot |
| 27 December 1932 | Fulham | H | 1-1 | 32,237 | Watson |
| 31 December 1932 | Swansea City | H | 3-1 | 16,876 | Barrett, Watson (2) |
| 7 January 1933 | Notts County | A | 0-2 | 11,437 | |
| 21 January 1933 | Port Vale | H | 5-0 | 13,908 | Barrett, Watson (2), Wilson (2) |
| 31 January 1933 | Millwall | A | 0-1 | 4,063 | |
| 4 February 1933 | Southampton | H | 3-1 | 16,521 | Watson, Wilson (2) |
| 11 February 1933 | Bury | A | 1-6 | 7,516 | Barrett |
| 6 March 1933 | Preston North End | H | 1-1 | 8,648 | Puddefoot |
| 11 March 1933 | Burnley | A | 0-4 | 10,771 | |
| 13 March 1933 | Oldham Athletic | A | 2-3 | 7,159 | Mills, Wood |
| 20 March 1933 | Bradford Park Avenue | H | 2-1 | 7,258 | Watson (2) |
| 25 March 1933 | Grimsby Town | A | 1-2 | 8,546 | Wilson |
| 27 March 1933 | Lincoln City | H | 0-0 | 9,836 | |
| 1 April 1933 | Stoke City | H | 1-2 | 19,104 | Barrett |
| 8 April 1933 | Charlton Athletic | A | 1-3 | 21,487 | Barrett |
| 14 April 1933 | Chesterfield | A | 0-1 | 11,974 | |
| 15 April 1933 | Nottingham Forest | H | 4-3 | 16,925 | Barrett, Wood, Goulden, Morton |
| 17 April 1933 | Chesterfield | H | 3-1 | 18,394 | Pollard, Watson, Morton |
| 22 April 1933 | Manchester United | A | 2-1 | 14,958 | Morton, Wilson |
| 29 April 1933 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1-0 | 31,706 | Wilson |
| 6 May 1933 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 1-4 | 10,444 | Hardie (og) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 14 January 1933 | Corinthians | A | 2-0 | 16,421 | Pollard, Watson |
| R4 | 28 January 1933 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 2-0 | 37,222 | Wilson, Watson |
| R5 | 18 February 1933 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2-2 | 32,310 | Musgrave, Watson |
| R5 Replay | 22 February 1933 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 1-0 | 36,742 | Morton |
| R6 | 4 March 1933 | Birmingham City | H | 4-0 | 44,242 | Pollard, Wilson, Morton, Barkas (og) |
| Semi-Final | 18 March 1933 | Everton | Molineux | 1-2 | 37,936 | Watson |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | ENG | Jim Barrett |
| — | MF | ENG | Albert Cadwell |
| — | DF | ENG | Alfred Chalkley |
| — | DF | ENG | Joe Cockroft |
| — | DF | ENG | Jimmy Collins |
| — | FW | ENG | Dickie Deacon |
| — | DF | ENG | Bob Dixon |
| — | DF | ENG | Alfred Earl |
| — | FW | ENG | Ted Fenton |
| — | DF | ENG | William Fryatt |
| — | DF | ENG | Reg Goodacre |
| — | FW | ENG | Len Goulden |
| — | FW | ENG | William Johnson |
| — | GK | SCO | Pat McMahon |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | SCO | Hugh Mills |
| — | FW | ENG | Jackie Morton |
| — | MF | ENG | Joe Musgrave |
| — | MF | ENG | Fred Norris |
| — | FW | ENG | Walter Pollard |
| — | FW | ENG | Syd Puddefoot |
| — | FW | ENG | Jimmy Ruffell |
| — | MF | ENG | Wally St Pier |
| — | DF | ENG | Albert Walker |
| — | GK | ENG | George Watson |
| — | FW | ENG | Vic Watson |
| — | MF | ENG | Arthur Wilson |
| — | FW | ENG | Jim Wood |
| — | MF | ENG | Tommy Yews |